The lengthy and complicated negotiations over the future of Wrigley Field took an unexpected turn Wednesday when Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts for the first time raised the specter of leaving the venerable ballpark if his demand for more stadium signage, including a giant video scoreboard, doesn’t receive government approval.

The Cubs are seeking a 6,000-square-foot video board that would be about triple the size of the iconic center-field scoreboard. For comparison, the Mariners’ new video screen at Safeco Field is 11,000 square feet.

The Cubs are planning some of the most extensive renovations of Wrigley Field in its 99-year-history. In exchange for more night games and the flexibility to add a video scoreboard and other outfield signs, Ricketts agreed to pay for the $300 million stadium renovation without taxpayer dollars and work with residents in the Wrigleyville neighborhood to increase security after games and find more off-site parking to reduce congestion in the area.

“The fact is we are committed to try to work this out. We’ve always said that we want to win in Wrigley Field, but we also need to generate the revenue we need to compete as a franchise,” Ricketts said.

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